Latest / F*ck, I’m Nearly 50! / Midlife Lessons: What Have These Conversations Taught Me? | Dom Hind | F*ck, I’m Nearly 50!

Transcript

Midlife Lessons: What Have These Conversations Taught Me? | Dom Hind | F*ck, I’m Nearly 50! · F*ck, I’m Nearly 50!

• 0:00
  Dom Hind: Hi, I'm Dom Hind and fuck, I'm nearly 50.
• 0:03
  Dom Hind: Actually I'm 47 and a half, but who's counting?
• 0:06
  Dom Hind: When I launched this podcast, I thought it'd just be a fun hobby project, a chance to chat to my friends, give a voice to the things we usually whisper about and maybe learn a few things along the way.
• 0:19
  Dom Hind: But 12 episodes in, I've realized I've learned a lot Things I thought I knew but didn't, things I didn't want to know but needed to, and things that made me stop and go, wow, maybe 50 isn't the beginning of the end, maybe it's the start of something amazing.
• 0:37
  Dom Hind: So today it's just me, no guest, no interview, just me reflecting on everything I've heard so far and how it's shaping the way I think about life at this stage.
• 0:48
  Dom Hind: And when I sat down to make sense of it all, I realized that everything I've learned, all the advice, the hacks, the stories, they fall into six big themes, six things that keep coming up no matter who I talk to.
• 1:02
  Dom Hind: So that's how I'm going to share it today Six key themes for thriving as we head towards 50.
• 1:08
  Dom Hind: And maybe that's the biggest surprise of all, that at nearly 50, I'm still a beginner in so many ways, still curious, still making so many mistakes, still laughing my way through the what the fuck moments Because, fuck, I'm nearly 50.
• 1:24
  Dom Hind: And isn't it amazing?
• 1:25
  Dom Hind: Theme one being a beginner and loving it.
• 1:39
  Dom Hind: This one is personal because before we get into health and hormones and big reinventions, the first thing I've learned is simply the joy of being a beginner.
• 1:49
  Dom Hind: When I started this podcast, I knew nothing, and when I say nothing I mean nothing.
• 1:54
  Dom Hind: Uploading an episode, new idea, cutting clips forget about it.
• 1:59
  Dom Hind: Using AI yes, I love it, but not for doing a podcast, even Instagram reels I had to learn it all from scratch.
• 2:07
  Dom Hind: I'll never forget the first time I uploaded to Buzzsprout.
• 2:10
  Dom Hind: I thought it was live, but it wasn't.
• 2:12
  Dom Hind: I'd missed a step.
• 2:14
  Dom Hind: So there I was, proudly telling people go listen, when in reality it didn't even exist.
• 2:20
  Dom Hind: Or the first reel I made, it literally ended mid-word.
• 2:24
  Dom Hind: But here's the thing I loved it being a beginner is humbling, messy and kind of exhilarating.
• 2:31
  Dom Hind: It keeps you alive.
• 2:32
  Dom Hind: And then the messages started coming in.
• 2:35
  Dom Hind: Thank you, I needed this.
• 2:36
  Dom Hind: I sent this to my sister.
• 2:38
  Dom Hind: Suddenly I realized, even if I messed up the tech, some people were listening the lesson don't be afraid to start, don't be afraid to look silly, to look crazy, to have fun doing it because at nearly 50, being a beginner is a gift.
• 2:54
  Dom Hind: It keeps us curious and brave, and once I embraced being a beginner with podcasting, it made me braver about being a beginner in other parts of my life, especially with my health.
• 3:07
  Dom Hind: Number two owning your health and hormones.
• 3:09
  Dom Hind: If there's one message I want every woman to hear, it's this own your health.
• 3:14
  Dom Hind: Shelley Horton put it perfectly Stop soldiering through.
• 3:17
  Dom Hind: Don't dismiss your symptoms.
• 3:20
  Dom Hind: Don't let doctors dismiss them either.
• 3:23
  Dom Hind: Track your cycles.
• 3:24
  Dom Hind: Don't let doctors dismiss them either.
• 3:29
  Dom Hind: Track your cycles, note your moods and advocate yourself.
• 3:31
  Dom Hind: Her peri-survival kit was simple but powerful HRT, vaginal estrogen, testosterone and, beyond the science, her bigger point was that we deserve better, better healthcare, better conversations, better support.
• 3:43
  Dom Hind: Zoe Bingley Pullen backed that up with nutritional wisdom.
• 3:46
  Dom Hind: Food isn't just calories, it's chemistry.
• 3:49
  Dom Hind: Protein and whole foods keep our hormones steady, while sugar and processed carbs push us into chaos.
• 3:56
  Dom Hind: Use colour in your food to keep it interesting and go places that inspire you Markets, fresh food stores, anywhere that you can get creative about food.
• 4:05
  Dom Hind: Zoe gave me three really practical hacks.
• 4:08
  Dom Hind: I still use Protein at every meal.
• 4:11
  Dom Hind: Midlife is where our muscle mass naturally starts to decline, so protein should be our anchor.
• 4:17
  Dom Hind: Eggs, fish, lentils, beans.
• 4:20
  Dom Hind: Crowd out the bad, don't just cut.
• 4:23
  Dom Hind: Instead of obsessing over what to avoid, load your plate with whole, nutritious foods first.
• 4:29
  Dom Hind: Cravings naturally shrink.
• 4:31
  Dom Hind: Food is mood.
• 4:34
  Dom Hind: What you eat doesn't just affect your waistline.
• 4:37
  Dom Hind: It directly affects your stress, your sleep and your mood.
• 4:40
  Dom Hind: Eating well is emotional self-care, and Amelia Phillips taught me that.
• 4:46
  Dom Hind: Inflammation is the quiet villain in midlife, the fatigue, the aches, the can't be bothered feeling.
• 4:52
  Dom Hind: Often it's inflammation driving it.
• 4:54
  Dom Hind: Her hacks were simple Colorful, anti-inflammatory foods, like the packaged beetroot.
• 5:00
  Dom Hind: Daily movement and actual rest.
• 5:03
  Dom Hind: Amelia also gave me a brilliant way to actually make new habits stick.
• 5:07
  Dom Hind: Don't go drastic, don't overhaul everything.
• 5:10
  Dom Hind: Instead, focus on one thing per term, just one new habit every few months, like upping your protein or committing to better sleep.
• 5:19
  Dom Hind: By the end of the year you've stacked up four new habits without overwhelming yourself.
• 5:24
  Dom Hind: Other gems for Amelia exercise for energy, not punishment.
• 5:29
  Dom Hind: Move to feel good, not to earn food.
• 5:33
  Dom Hind: Track your energy instead of just your weight.
• 5:36
  Dom Hind: How you feel is a better marker than the number on the scales.
• 5:39
  Dom Hind: The lesson here our bodies are not betraying us.
• 5:44
  Dom Hind: They're speaking to us and if we listen and act now, we set ourselves up for decades of vitality.
• 5:50
  Dom Hind: But health isn't just about hormones and food.
• 5:53
  Dom Hind: It's also about guts, skin and how our bodies carry us into the future.
• 5:59
  Dom Hind: Theme three gut, skin and longevity.
• 6:02
  Dom Hind: This one blew my mind.
• 6:04
  Dom Hind: Dr Craig Hafer reminded me that gut health is the command center.
• 6:08
  Dom Hind: It's not just digestion, it's immunity, mood, even how we age.
• 6:13
  Dom Hind: His advice was refreshingly simple Ditch the ultra-processed stuff, watch preservatives.
• 6:20
  Dom Hind: If bread lasts weeks, it's not helping your gut, fiber is your friend, psyllium husk is his go-to every day, minus chia seeds.
• 6:28
  Dom Hind: And don't obsess over fancy probiotics.
• 6:32
  Dom Hind: Prebiotics and whole foods matter more.
• 6:36
  Dom Hind: And he reminded me that movement outdoors literally changes your microbiome.
• 6:42
  Dom Hind: A walk in nature is medicine and better for you and your gut.
• 6:48
  Dom Hind: On the outside, dr Philip Tong reframed skin.
• 6:50
  Dom Hind: Skin isn't vanity, it's an organ.
• 6:52
  Dom Hind: Sbs is a preventative medicine.
• 6:55
  Dom Hind: Skin checks save lives and building a strong barrier is as vital as building strong bones.
• 7:02
  Dom Hind: Together they reminded me that longevity isn't just about living longer, it's about health span, living well inside and out.
• 7:11
  Dom Hind: And once I started looking at health more holistically, I realized it's not just about the body, it's also about the mind.
• 7:17
  Dom Hind: So theme four is about mindset and reinvention.
• 7:20
  Dom Hind: If there's one thing I've learned in midlife, it's this your mindset shapes everything.
• 7:26
  Dom Hind: Shanna Kennedy hammered home that tomorrow starts today.
• 7:30
  Dom Hind: Don't wait, don't drift.
• 7:31
  Dom Hind: Every yes is a no to something else, so make sure it's worth it.
• 7:35
  Dom Hind: She also helped me define my values health, family, happiness, pleasure, adventure and fun.
• 7:40
  Dom Hind: They're my compass.
• 7:42
  Dom Hind: Now Every decision I make is based on these.
• 7:44
  Dom Hind: One of her tips I loved was seasonal goals.
• 7:47
  Dom Hind: Not everything has to be done at once.
• 7:49
  Dom Hind: Winter is perfect for hibernating, tackling the admin, doing the tax, settling the systems.
• 7:54
  Dom Hind: Then spring and summer can be about growth, energy and new projects, breaking goals into seasons, making them realistic and achievable.
• 8:02
  Dom Hind: Other gems from Shanna Write a life plan, not just career, but health, family, finances and fun.
• 8:10
  Dom Hind: Create rituals, small daily anchors like a morning walk or journaling, that keep you grounded.
• 8:16
  Dom Hind: Lydia Ranieri showed me that clarity isn't just about adding more.
• 8:22
  Dom Hind: It's about subtracting.
• 8:24
  Dom Hind: Simplify your diary, simplifyplify your commitments, simplify your thoughts.
• 8:29
  Dom Hind: And Nigel Marsh, he called it.
• 8:32
  Dom Hind: Balance is bullshit.
• 8:33
  Dom Hind: We've been sold this myth that we can have everything in neat slices, but we can't.
• 8:40
  Dom Hind: We can design a life that actually works for us instead.
• 8:45
  Dom Hind: The big shift for me, moving from chasing to choosing Reinvention, isn't one big leap, it's daily, deliberate decisions.
• 8:52
  Dom Hind: And talking about reinvention, some of the most powerful stories came from women brave enough to start completely over.
• 9:00
  Dom Hind: Theme five courage, reinvention and career shifts.
• 9:04
  Dom Hind: The stories of reinvention have stayed with me.
• 9:07
  Dom Hind: Justine Armour, one of my dearest friends, reminded us that success on paper doesn't mean fulfillment.
• 9:14
  Dom Hind: At the top of her industry, she still chooses authenticity over titles.
• 9:18
  Dom Hind: She's learned that growth over time and changed her leadership style to be truly authentic to her.
• 9:26
  Dom Hind: Talitha Cummins showed us that starting over at 40 is not only possible, it can be joyful.
• 9:32
  Dom Hind: She left TV, embraced sobriety and built a jewellery brand with purpose and Tracey Hall.
• 9:39
  Dom Hind: She brought it home with honesty Fuck, I wasn't ready, but I am now.
• 9:44
  Dom Hind: Life through her curveballs, divorce, loss, uncertainty and she rebuilt from the ground up.
• 9:51
  Dom Hind: Tracy also gave me a reality, practical finance hack Check your bank statements weekly, not monthly, not once a year.
• 9:58
  Dom Hind: Weekly, because if you don't know what's coming in and going out, you can't make smart decisions.
• 10:03
  Dom Hind: Coming in and going out, you can't make smart decisions.
• 10:08
  Dom Hind: Another gem from Tracy create a curveball fund, even a small emergency stash, just for the unexpected.
• 10:11
  Dom Hind: Have the hard conversations early with partners, kids or family about money, wills and health plans.
• 10:19
  Dom Hind: And, like Amelia, tracy also hammered home the importance of sleep.
• 10:24
  Dom Hind: Protect it, prioritize it, guard it, because without good sleep, everything else falls over.
• 10:30
  Dom Hind: These women reminded me that reinvention isn't optional, it's part of life and if you lean into it it can be liberating.
• 10:38
  Dom Hind: But survival isn't just about careers and curveballs.
• 10:41
  Dom Hind: It's also about the people you walk through it with.
• 10:44
  Dom Hind: See theme six relationships and connection.
• 10:48
  Dom Hind: If midlife has taught me anything, it's that friendships are medicine.
• 10:53
  Dom Hind: Maddie Marsh reminded me that friendships aren't extras, they're lifelines.
• 10:58
  Dom Hind: They're the people who know your history, who've seen every version of you, who make you laugh when everything feels heavy.
• 11:05
  Dom Hind: In a stage of life where family changes, careers shift and hormones rage, friendships steady the ship.
• 11:13
  Dom Hind: They remind us of who we are.
• 11:15
  Dom Hind: The lesson nurture them, prioritize them, because in the end, it's not your six pack that anyone remembers, it's how you made them feel.
• 11:25
  Dom Hind: The common thread and something I've noticed across all of these conversations is this Talk about what's going on.
• 11:32
  Dom Hind: Don't hold it in.
• 11:33
  Dom Hind: If you can talk to your partner, your girlfriends or family, do it, and if you can't, then talk to your GP.
• 11:39
  Dom Hind: But here's the catch Make sure you've got a good GP, one who listens, one who takes you seriously, one who's willing to work with you and build a team of healthcare professionals around you, whether that's a nutritionist, a physio, a dermatologist, a psychologist, whatever you need, because midlife isn't a time to go alone.
• 12:03
  Dom Hind: You're the leader of your team, but you don't have to be the only player and another big one.
• 12:09
  Dom Hind: Get your baseline, book your skin check, do your bloods, take photos if you want to track changes.
• 12:15
  Dom Hind: Know where you're starting from, because that's a huge thing.
• 12:20
  Dom Hind: And without a baseline you don't know what's changing or when to step in.
• 12:27
  Dom Hind: And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that catching things early whether it's health, hormones or habits, makes all the difference.
• 12:38
  Dom Hind: So one of my favorite parts of these conversations has been asking my guests what they'd challenge me or anyone to try before hitting 50.
• 12:46
  Dom Hind: And the answers have been brilliant and made me think.
• 12:50
  Dom Hind: Justine Armour said take a solo trip, even just a few days.
• 12:54
  Dom Hind: Go somewhere on your own, set your own rhythm, eat what you want, wake up when you want.
• 12:59
  Dom Hind: The independence is addictive and it reminds you that you're capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for.
• 13:07
  Dom Hind: Tracy Hall suggested creating 50 before 50.
• 13:11
  Dom Hind: List 50 things you want to do, try or experience before this milestones.
• 13:17
  Dom Hind: They don't all have to be massive.
• 13:19
  Dom Hind: Some can be simple a new recipe, a walk somewhere different, a coffee with an old friend.
• 13:24
  Dom Hind: Others can be big A trip, a course, a career leap.
• 13:27
  Dom Hind: It's about intention, not perfection.
• 13:32
  Dom Hind: Dr Craig Hafer gave me the most practical challenge Get a scan which I've already done and listen to your body.
• 13:38
  Dom Hind: Do your baseline health checks blood, skins, bowel screen and then pay attention.
• 13:44
  Dom Hind: Notice how food, movement, stress affects you.
• 13:47
  Dom Hind: Your body whispers before it screams.
• 13:51
  Dom Hind: Lydia Ranieri said become a beginner at something.
• 13:54
  Dom Hind: Pick anything a language, a pottery class, learning to surf, doing a podcast.
• 13:57
  Dom Hind: The discomfort of not knowing is where you find energy and joy.
• 14:03
  Dom Hind: Dr Philip Tong suggested write a letter to your future self.
• 14:06
  Dom Hind: Imagine you at 45, 55, 60 or 70.
• 14:10
  Dom Hind: What do you want to thank them for?
• 14:12
  Dom Hind: What do you want to remember?
• 14:14
  Dom Hind: Is there some way of checking how you're living now and making sure it aligns?
• 14:19
  Dom Hind: Nigel Marsh challenged us to do something kind or courageous when no one is watching.
• 14:24
  Dom Hind: Help someone give quietly.
• 14:26
  Dom Hind: Take an action that aligns with your values and tell no one.
• 14:30
  Dom Hind: It's about doing it for the integrity of it, not the applause.
• 14:34
  Dom Hind: And others added gems too.
• 14:36
  Dom Hind: Shelley Horton talk openly about your perimenopause or menopause systems, whether it's with your friends, family or GP.
• 14:43
  Dom Hind: Start the conversation and refuse the silence.
• 14:47
  Dom Hind: Amelia Phillips said protect your sleep like it's sacred.
• 14:52
  Dom Hind: Set a bedtime, make your room cool and dark and stop glorifying exhaustion.
• 14:58
  Dom Hind: Shanna Kennedy, write down your values and use them as your compass.
• 15:03
  Dom Hind: Make every decision through that lens.
• 15:06
  Dom Hind: The point of all these you don't need to wait until you're 50 to live deliberately.
• 15:11
  Dom Hind: You can actually start now.
• 15:15
  Dom Hind: So the summary, my own learnings.
• 15:19
  Dom Hind: So those are the six big themes I've learned so far being a beginner, stay curious, start messy, keep learning, owning your health and hormones.
• 15:29
  Dom Hind: Track, advocate and act now.
• 15:31
  Dom Hind: Gut skin, longevity inside and out, it all matters.
• 15:35
  Dom Hind: Mindset and reinvention.
• 15:37
  Dom Hind: Tomorrow starts today.
• 15:38
  Dom Hind: Simplify and choose Courage and career shifts.
• 15:41
  Dom Hind: Reinvention isn't optional.
• 15:44
  Dom Hind: It's survival, relationships and connection.
• 15:47
  Dom Hind: Friendships are the glue, they're the medicine.
• 15:51
  Dom Hind: And if I boil it down to my own personal survival kit, here are 10 things I'm taking with me into the next decade.
• 15:58
  Dom Hind: One protect your sleep.
• 16:00
  Dom Hind: It's the super elixir.
• 16:01
  Dom Hind: Thanks to Shelley, amelia and Tracy for reminding me of this.
• 16:05
  Dom Hind: Build every plate around proteins, plants and fiber Fuel.
• 16:10
  Dom Hind: Don't starve.
• 16:11
  Dom Hind: Advocate for yourself with doctors, with bosses, with life.
• 16:15
  Dom Hind: Four reset as often as you need to.
• 16:18
  Dom Hind: Life is phases, not a straight line.
• 16:20
  Dom Hind: Five nurture friendships.
• 16:23
  Dom Hind: Laughter and honesty are medicine.
• 16:25
  Dom Hind: Six never stop being a beginner.
• 16:28
  Dom Hind: Curiosity keeps you alive.
• 16:30
  Dom Hind: Seven move daily, preferably outdoors.
• 16:33
  Dom Hind: Exercise is about brain, gut, joy, not just calories.
• 16:37
  Dom Hind: Do the preventative stuff Skin checks, bowel screening, blood tests.
• 16:41
  Dom Hind: Catch it early.
• 16:42
  Dom Hind: Make space for stillness, meditation, journaling or just sitting in the car for five minutes before the kids pile in.
• 16:50
  Dom Hind: Choose joy unapologetically, whether it's a glass of wine, a chocolate binge, dancing in the kitchen.
• 17:03
  Dom Hind: 12 conversations, 12 voices, six big themes.
• 17:09
  Dom Hind: One common thread talk, track and build your team, and a 10 point survival kit.
• 17:15
  Dom Hind: I'm carrying into the next decade and me, a beginner who still sometimes presses the wrong buttons, cuts the wrong clips and wonders if anyone is actually listening.
• 17:27
  Dom Hind: But then I get your messages and I know this is worth it.
• 17:30
  Dom Hind: So here's my challenge to you Pick one thing from today book the skin check, do your bloods, track your symptoms, add the fiber.
• 17:40
  Dom Hind: Say no to something that doesn't align.
• 17:42
  Dom Hind: Call your best friend, try something brand new and be a beginner again, because this isn't about getting to 50 quietly.
• 17:50
  Dom Hind: This is about striding in, laughing, crying, owning it because, fuck, I'm nearly 50.
• 17:56
  Dom Hind: And isn't it amazing?